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lost brakes today

After getting off work I was gonna go see my buddy. Hit the gas station right before the interstate to pick up some cold one, hit the brakes and nothing, I mean nothing. I tried pumping them, then dropped it in 1st (I was going about 45mph) and made the turn off, alittle bit quicker then I would have liked to.

Popped the hood and checked fluid and the rear resevoir was completely empty, and the front was full to the top. Bought a bottle of fluid and dumped some in the rear and limped it home at 25mph with my flashers on. Glad i decided to stop before getting on the freeway.

I threw a reman unit in when I first bought the car because it had no rear brakes. When I replaced it, the passenger side wheel cylinder was blown, and had obviously been that way for quite some time. Replaced the cylinder and I haven't had an issue until today.

Taking bets on what broke. I was always of the assumption that on a dual resevoir if ya lost one, you would still have the other. I know the front brakes were working earlier in the day, my weekend job is pizza delivery and I was driving around all day on snow and ice, locked the front tires once or twice. Brakes felt normal all night, until I tried to stop for the turn at the gas station.
Quote from: jcassity
I honestly dont think you could exceed the cost of a new car buy installing new *stock* parts everywhere in your coug our tbird. Its just plain impossible. You could revamp the entire drivetrain/engine/suspenstion and still come out ahead.
Hooligans! 
1988 Crown Vic wagon. 120K California car. Wifes grocery getter. (junked)
1987 Ford Thunderbird LX. 5.0. s.o., sn-95 t-5 and an f-150 clutch. Driven daily and going strong.
1986 cougar.
lilsammywasapunkrocker@yahoo.com

lost brakes today

Reply #1 –
Did a flex line rupture? My rear line ruptured a few years ago. I have all new flex lines, master cylinder, rotors in the garage. Waiting on funds to order a booster and get bearings, then swapping it all. I'm guessing the flex line (rear), but maybe a front one.
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

lost brakes today

Reply #2 –
Haven't played with it much,  as our highs have been around 15°f outside, but putting brake fluid back in the rear resevoir does nothing. When I pump the brakes I still have no fluid movement, although I can barely overcome the engine at idle.

My theory is that I had a slow leak in the rear and never noticed and it has probably been dry for some time. Pretty funny, considering I just passed a saftey check last week when I registered the car, which includes a brake balance check.

My guess is that the reman cheapie I threw on the car when if first got it has failed, as no fluid is even moving front or rear. Even with a leak somewhere on the rear brakes, I can't push enough fluid to locate it and even after being parked overnight, I can't see any obvious puddles.

Gonna wait till payday and try a new master, unless it actually works up enough to melt some of the snow and ice on the ground so I can lay under it while someone else pumps it so I can try to locate a leak. Otherwise, I feel it has to be a bad master either way.
Quote from: jcassity
I honestly dont think you could exceed the cost of a new car buy installing new *stock* parts everywhere in your coug our tbird. Its just plain impossible. You could revamp the entire drivetrain/engine/suspenstion and still come out ahead.
Hooligans! 
1988 Crown Vic wagon. 120K California car. Wifes grocery getter. (junked)
1987 Ford Thunderbird LX. 5.0. s.o., sn-95 t-5 and an f-150 clutch. Driven daily and going strong.
1986 cougar.
lilsammywasapunkrocker@yahoo.com

lost brakes today

Reply #3 –
The master is leaking out it the bottom, against the brake booster. In a day or two I'll pick up a new master, bleed the brakes and see what happens.
Quote from: jcassity
I honestly dont think you could exceed the cost of a new car buy installing new *stock* parts everywhere in your coug our tbird. Its just plain impossible. You could revamp the entire drivetrain/engine/suspenstion and still come out ahead.
Hooligans! 
1988 Crown Vic wagon. 120K California car. Wifes grocery getter. (junked)
1987 Ford Thunderbird LX. 5.0. s.o., sn-95 t-5 and an f-150 clutch. Driven daily and going strong.
1986 cougar.
lilsammywasapunkrocker@yahoo.com

lost brakes today

Reply #4 –
Good luck. Hope that fixes the braking issue. I have got to get my MC and flex lines swapped, new rotors on, and eventually get a new booster when funds allow. I'll do it all at once.
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

lost brakes today

Reply #5 –
Get a NEW not re-manufactured master. The re-manufactured ones tend to leak in a very short amount of time.
88 Thunderbird LX: 306, Edelbrock Performer heads, Comp 266HR cam, Edelbrock Performer RPM intake, bunch of other stuff.

lost brakes today

Reply #6 –
Sounds like a bad MC.  The brake fluid can get into the booster and rot out the diaphragm so the quicker you replace it the better.  If you have any fluid down in the booster get it out of there with something like a turkey baster.

Interesting on the new MC versus the reman...never had an issue with a reman and have one on both of my Foxes.  Typically a good bench bleed will prove out a MC.

Darren

83 351W TKO'd T-Bird on the bottle


93 331 Mustang Coupe - 368 rwhp

lost brakes today

Reply #7 –
Quote from: Aerocoupe;452727

Interesting on the new MC versus the reman...never had an issue with a reman and have one on both of my Foxes.  Typically a good bench bleed will prove out a MC.

Darren

Reman units typically have bore wear (at least aluminum masters do) and typically leak with in a year or two/couple thousand miles.
88 Thunderbird LX: 306, Edelbrock Performer heads, Comp 266HR cam, Edelbrock Performer RPM intake, bunch of other stuff.

lost brakes today

Reply #8 –
Yep, i bought the $19.99 one when i bought the car. It wouldn't push any fluid to the rear and i guess a new master would be cheaper then brake lines. The pedal also sunk and pressure would come back if you pumped it.

In hoping that's the case again. If i really stand on it now, i can barely over come the idle of the car, and the ebrake has been lubed and adjusted. I've pulled it out of the garage a few times, my sisters driving my dads fiesta and the battery ped out so I've been jumping her.

Ill know for sure Friday. Gonna throw another reman at it and hope it works. Haven't had bad luck with others and this one worked for a few years without issue.

It was pretty scary to be doing 50mph and try to hit the brakes and have nothing happen. I thought hard about the ebrake, but it had just rained and it turned to black ice. I figured id have a better shot at avoid traffic through the light if i couldn't stop. 1am in th middle of nowhere you can see traffic for miles.
Quote from: jcassity
I honestly dont think you could exceed the cost of a new car buy installing new *stock* parts everywhere in your coug our tbird. Its just plain impossible. You could revamp the entire drivetrain/engine/suspenstion and still come out ahead.
Hooligans! 
1988 Crown Vic wagon. 120K California car. Wifes grocery getter. (junked)
1987 Ford Thunderbird LX. 5.0. s.o., sn-95 t-5 and an f-150 clutch. Driven daily and going strong.
1986 cougar.
lilsammywasapunkrocker@yahoo.com

lost brakes today

Reply #9 –
Swapped the only master cylinder for 50 miles I could get, another cheepie reman.

Without even bleeding the brakes the pedal is firmer then it was before. I spilled some brake fluid I'll have to clean up and dry, probably finish bleeding tomorrow. 17°f is really cold with wet hands and no gloves, didn't realize I was out.
Quote from: jcassity
I honestly dont think you could exceed the cost of a new car buy installing new *stock* parts everywhere in your coug our tbird. Its just plain impossible. You could revamp the entire drivetrain/engine/suspenstion and still come out ahead.
Hooligans! 
1988 Crown Vic wagon. 120K California car. Wifes grocery getter. (junked)
1987 Ford Thunderbird LX. 5.0. s.o., sn-95 t-5 and an f-150 clutch. Driven daily and going strong.
1986 cougar.
lilsammywasapunkrocker@yahoo.com

lost brakes today

Reply #10 –
I found a space heater, brought it outside and gravity bled the brakes. After finishing that I got my brother to help me manually bleed them. I only got a bit of air out of nthe passenger rear drum. After a quick test drive, it stops much better then I ever remember. In a full lock up it kinda pulls right a bit, but it is easily manageable and stays in the lane. It feels like the rear is trying to come around a bit.

I'm not sure I ever really had rear brakes on this car before. It seemed to have about double the stopping power and I can now lock up the rears, which I'm not sure I've ever done before on this car. Even with the 275/60's out back it will lock up if I press just a touch firmer then when the fronts lock.

I am happy, it drove good, got the right part and I don't think I have any leaks. I'll check fluids in the morning and as long as they're still sitting in the same place, I'm calling it fixed.
Quote from: jcassity
I honestly dont think you could exceed the cost of a new car buy installing new *stock* parts everywhere in your coug our tbird. Its just plain impossible. You could revamp the entire drivetrain/engine/suspenstion and still come out ahead.
Hooligans! 
1988 Crown Vic wagon. 120K California car. Wifes grocery getter. (junked)
1987 Ford Thunderbird LX. 5.0. s.o., sn-95 t-5 and an f-150 clutch. Driven daily and going strong.
1986 cougar.
lilsammywasapunkrocker@yahoo.com

lost brakes today

Reply #11 –
I spoke too soon. When I pulled the car back in the driveway, there was a nice puddle in it. Turns out I had a busted front rubber hose. If I cranked the wheel it leaked, if the wheels were straight it didn't. I think I wasted $20 on the master cylinder, but the brakes feel like they should now.

Been a mess trying to get this done.
Quote from: jcassity
I honestly dont think you could exceed the cost of a new car buy installing new *stock* parts everywhere in your coug our tbird. Its just plain impossible. You could revamp the entire drivetrain/engine/suspenstion and still come out ahead.
Hooligans! 
1988 Crown Vic wagon. 120K California car. Wifes grocery getter. (junked)
1987 Ford Thunderbird LX. 5.0. s.o., sn-95 t-5 and an f-150 clutch. Driven daily and going strong.
1986 cougar.
lilsammywasapunkrocker@yahoo.com

lost brakes today

Reply #12 –
I bet that pull to the right will go away now!  Glad you have brakes again.

Darren

83 351W TKO'd T-Bird on the bottle


93 331 Mustang Coupe - 368 rwhp

lost brakes today

Reply #13 –
Lol, yes it did.

When I was bleeding the brakes before I replaced the brake line, the car felt fine and I didn't see any leaks or puddles. Went for a quick drive and saw puddles. I was really confused, tried bleeding it again and it felt fine. The next morning I could see the fluid level dropped, I stepped on the brake and it still felt fine. Then I really jammed on it and I heard a pop noise and the pedal dropped to the floor. Saw a puddle under the right front tire, so I pulled the wheel all the way to the left and got a helper to step on it. No leaks? I was really, really confused.

Finally I had my helper turn the wheel to the right, and it was an instant constant flow. I felt really stupid, but its fixed now. Gonna inspect all the other rubber lines this week (I work weekends) and replace any that look dry rotted or cracked of soft or anything.
Quote from: jcassity
I honestly dont think you could exceed the cost of a new car buy installing new *stock* parts everywhere in your coug our tbird. Its just plain impossible. You could revamp the entire drivetrain/engine/suspenstion and still come out ahead.
Hooligans! 
1988 Crown Vic wagon. 120K California car. Wifes grocery getter. (junked)
1987 Ford Thunderbird LX. 5.0. s.o., sn-95 t-5 and an f-150 clutch. Driven daily and going strong.
1986 cougar.
lilsammywasapunkrocker@yahoo.com
 

lost brakes today

Reply #14 –
It's always been a hose on my car. New ones are going on mine when time allows.
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..